Toy



Sept. 20, 1938. F. M. HOOVER TOY Filed Feb. 28, 1938 INVENTOR. 141mb N00 rm 6M "MA I U/(allay; J s ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 20, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

Fig. I of the accompanying drawing shows the rattle in perspective. Figs. II and III are views 5 in diametrical section and in elevation of one of the disks that enter into the composition of the rattle.

The rattle consists of a plurality-advantageously a dozen or moreof identical perforate disk-like rattle elements strung upon a flexible,

endless carrier.

The carrier will advantageously take the form of a length of metal chain I of bead-shaped links provided at the ends with the complementary parts 2, 3 of a separable fastener, in order that the rattle elements may be strung bead-like upon the chain and the ends made fast, securing the whole.

The rattle elements are formed of urea formal- 20 dehyde, a thermo-plastic material that at room temperature is hard and bone-like. Each of these identical elements 4 is advantageously of general disk shape, having preferably the particular form of a circular section of a spherical 25 shell. This shell may, typically, be one sixteenth of an inch in thickness, and its internal sphericity may be of two and five eighths inch radius. In refinement the disk may be formed of increasing thickness towards its periphery, and in this 30 case the effect is gained by shaping the two surfaces to conformity with two spheres described by unequal radii and upon spaced apart centers, the outer spherical surface on a two and thirteen sixteenths inch radius and the inner surface on 35 a radius three sixteenths of an inch less. The diameter of the disk may be two inches, and the central perforation a quarter of an inch in diameter. The perforation is surrounded on the concave face of the disk by an outstanding fiange 5, of one substance with, and shaped integrally with, the body of the disk. This flange extends approximately to, but preferably falls a little short of, intersection with the plane that chordlike defines the spherical section. The disk is, as has been intimated, a molded article, and all its limiting edges are rounded. The flanges 5 afford such spacing of the disks in the assembled toy as to cause them to clash at their peripheries and to produce a loud rattling sound. The rounding of the edges makes for cleanliness and durability and also facilitates rattling movement.

The perforations through the disks being of the order of a quarter of an inch in diameter, the chain may be of bead-like links that are an 55 eighth of an inch in diameter or less; and, fifteen or sixteen such dis'ks being strung, the chain may be approximately twelve inches long.

The material, urea formaldehyde, is, at room temperature, a tough, hard material, that affords a loud rattling sound when the toy is shaken. The size of the disks is such that it is impossible for a child to swallow the toy. The size is-such that a baby may use the toy with the effect of a teething ring. The shape and dimensions of the disks are chosen to afford a compact article of loud rattling power, whose elements are of strength to endure the intended use. The material when shaped by 'molding afiords an article of smooth and lustrous surface. The material being itself colorless, the disks may be brilliantly colored, byv pigments worked into the substance, and the assembly of disks on the chain may present a pleasing variety of bright colors.

The material is non-inflammable; it is inert to saliva; it is dense and non-penetrable by, and non-absorbent of, water; it is susceptible to sterilization in boiling water, and the disks may repeatedly and for sufficient intervals of time be subjected to sterilization in boiling water without loss of shape or of luster.

The rattle of the invention has this characteristic of a string of beads, that it prompts a child in the identification of colors and in learning to count.

Circularity of the disks and curvature to spherical conformation are preferred, though not essential, features.

I claim as my invention:

1. A rattle consisting of a plurality of perforate disks of urea formaldehyde with outstanding flanges surrounding the perforations, the disks being loosely strung upon an endless flexible carrier.

2. A rattle consisting of a plurality of perforate disks of identical shape loosely strung upon an endless flexible carrier, each disk shaped to conformity to a spherical shell and provided on its concave face with a flange surrounding its perforation.

3. A rattle consisting of a plurality of perforate disks of identical shape loosely strung upon an endless metal chain of bead-shaped links, each disk shaped to conformity to a spherical shell and provided on its concave face with a perforation-surrounding flange.

4. A rattle consisting of a plurality of perforate disks of identical shape loosely strung in uniform succession upon an endless flexible carrier, each disk shaped to substantial. conformity to a spherical shell, but of thickness increasing toward the periphery, and provided on its concave face with a spacing flange surrounding the perforation.

FRANK M. HOOVER. 

